Orthopedic device.



M- L. SEVERY.

ORTHOPEDIG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25; 1914 Patented FGb. 23, 1915.

{HE NORRIS PETERS C0, PHDTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTUN, D C- MELVIN L. SEVERY,O'F ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. MASSACHUSETTS.

ORTHO'PEDIC DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed September 25, 1914. Serial No. 863,584.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN L. similar, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arlington Heights, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOrthopedic Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for the relief and curative treatmentof foot troubles involving a fallen or otherwise displaced arch.Heretofore the usual treatment has been to give direct support frombeneath to the arch of the foot, with the idea of holding it in itsnormal position, but such treatment is not curative for thereason thatthe bones are constrained to move in an abnormal way and the footmuscles are not given the exercise necessary to increase their strength.

I have observed that in the general class of cases which it is mypurpose to treat, the foot of the patient rolls either inwardly oroutwardly at each step as he walks, and that this rolling produces sucha distortion of the position of the bones of the foot as to subject thearch to arbnormal stresses. So long as this rolling is permitted to takeplace there is no opportunity for the foot to regain its lost strength.The above considerations have led me to the conclusion that the propertreatment for such cases is the application to the patients foot of somedevice which will force the foot to the proper normal position at thebeginning of each step, and I have found that I can force a foot intosuch position by the use of a brace attached to the patients heel andacting to rock the foot in opposition to the characteristic rollingtendency just as the patient places his heel upon the ground. For use inextreme cases the complete device is provided with means for givingdirect support to the arch from beneath, but the theory of the treatmentis to make this support as little as is consistent with the preventionof harmful strain. A further principle of the treatment is the gradualreduction and final elemination of this direct support as the strengthof the foot gradually increases. By thus positioning the foot properlyand by compelling it when properly positioned to support so much of thepatients weight as it is capable of supporting I gradually strengthenthe foot muscles and this institutes a gradual curative action. In orderto make possible necessary adjustments during the course of treatmentand in order to secure uniform conditions with diflerent shoes I preferto make the device wholly separate from the shoe, though obviously itmight be constructed as part of a shoe, and it therefore takes in itspreferred form the shape of a heel brace or support intended to be worninside the shoe.

In order that all the details of the invention may be fully set forth Iillustrate the preferred form complete with all the special featureswhich might be used, but it is to be understood that certain of theseare required only in special cases and may be omitted if desired, aswill be apparent from a reading of the description.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of the completedevice, with parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectionof the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stiffener plate showingthe arch support formed thereon and showing the lifter plates inserted;Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of lifter plates for use in thedevices illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 6 is an elevation showing aslightly different construction of heel brace and attaching meanstherefor; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 showing aslightly different mode of attaching the lifter plate; and Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the lifter plate used in Fig. 7.

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the attaching means is asort of ankle brace which embraces the heel of the foot and which islaced up in the familiar manner by means of a lacing, not shown, passingthrough the eyelets 11. The ankle brace, as more clearly illustrated inFig. 2 is made up of outer and inner layers 12 and 13 with anintervening layer 14, which may be of any desired material, but commonlyis felt, to serve to a certain extent as a pad, and to a certain extentas a stiffening means. The portions 12, 18 and 14 are fastened throughto a sole piece 15 which extends forward beyond the forward extremity ofthe attaching portion and is skived down to form a thin tongue or insoleindicated in Fig. 1 at 1'6.

Beneath the sole portion 15 is a metallic stiffener plate 17 whichextends forward in the arched tongue 18 at the inner side of the foot.This tongue 18 is formed to serve as a support for the arch of the footand extends forward far enough to bear on the sole of the shoe,preferably as far forward as the ball of the foot. In order to give thenecessary strength without undue weight, it is provided with acorrugation or rib. This also serves as a means to retain felt or otherpads 19 which are interchangeable to permit adjustment of the amount ofdirect support given the arch. As already suggested the function of thisarch brace portion 18 and pad 19, is merely to give such support as isabsolutely necessary and in certain cases it may be wholly omitted. Insuch cases the forwardly extending portion 16 of the sole portion of thebrace may not extend quite so far forward. The metal plate 17 has upwardextensions 20 at either side of the brace structure outside the layer 12and these extensions are bent downwardly upon themselves at 21 thusforming pockets or sockets for a purpose later to be described. Theseupward extensions 20 at the sides of the brace are protected by aleather slip or cover 22 which is stitched to the leather portion of thebrace.

The pockets formed by the side plates 20 receive metallic lifter plates23 which, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, extend downward beyond thestiffener plate 1.7 at either side of the brace. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4:the lifter plates 23 are connected by a clove-tail connection to fillerplates 24 which are interchangeable to permit adjustment. Over thefiller plates 24 are separate bow springs 25 to give a limited verticalresiliency to the lifter plates. By the proper designing of the springsthe relative resiliency of the springs at opposite sides of the foot andtheir relative range of movement may be made anything within desirablelimits. In many cases it is not necessary that the special resiliency besecured and in such cases I omit the springs 25. WVhere only slightresiliency is necessary I make use of a lifter plate such as isindicated in Fig. 5 in which the lifter plate consists of a rectangularor substantially rectangular wire frame 26 with a bearing block 27 atthe lower end.

The construction now described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 mayobviously be so adjusted as to cant the patients foot either inwardly oroutwardly by suitably changing or adjusting the lifter plates 23 atopposite sides of the foot. In cases where there is a pronouncedtendency for the patients foot to roll in either direction, that is incases "where there is pronounced ankle weakness, I

find, it desirable to provide lifter plates 23 one at each side of thefoot so as to give as wide a support as possible, but in cases wherethere is a pronounced tendency to roll the foot in only one directionthe lifter plate may be provided only on the side toward which the foottends to roll. In fact in many cases the plate 17 will be provided withthe upward projection 20 and the reflexed portion 21 only at one side ofthe foot.

Referring now to the modified construction shown in Fig. 6 it will benoted that here the attaching portion is much smaller and the archsupporting member is wholly omitted. The construction of the leatherportion of the device is essentially the same as that already describedand the lifter plate 23 is mounted in a pocket formed in the bent plate17, 20, 21 such as has already been described. Similar parts aresimilarly numbered. The brace is attached by means of an ankle strap 28.

In Figs. 7 and 8 further modification is shown. The device is intendedto be attached by means of an ankle brace similar to that shown in Fig.1 and built up of the layers 12, 13 and 14 with the sole piece 15 andthe stiffener plate 17. The stiffener plate 17 is continued up at 20against that side of the-foot to which the lifter plate is to beattached. The plate 20 is not, however, reflexed to form a pocket.Instead the plate 17, 20 is formed with pockets 29 along the line of thebend, the plate 17 being formed with downwardly extending bosses at thepockets and these pockets receive the upper pair of three tongues 30which are formed on the angular lifter plate 31. The tongues 30 thusstraddle the plate 17 and serve as a ready means of releasableconnection. Adjustment is secured by the substitution of lifter platesof difl'erent sizes.

It is to be observed that all the constructions above described involvesome attaching means by which the whole device can be attached to thewearers heel-a stiffening structure associated therewith and adapted tosupport the heel and to bear against the side of the foot at the heel;and an eccentric support for said stiffening means so arranged as toconvert a downward pressure by the heel thereupon into a lateral thrustagainst the side of the foot at the heel.

While, as above stated, the device is illustrated in its complete form Iwish specifically to point out that various of the elements may beomitted in cases where the action of the device is not to be modifiedthereby, and I particularly call attention to the following: The archbrace 18 is subject to variation in form up to the point of completeelimination. Lifter plates may be used at one side only of the foot andin some cases one lifter plate pocket may be wholly omitted. In manycases the resiliency of the complete device will be suflicient withoutthe special provision of the springs 25 and these may be omitted, andgenerally I do not limit myself to the specific construction shown asmany obvious changes, all

falling within the scope of the invention, may be made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an orthopedicdevice adapted to be worn within an ordinary shoe the combination ofattaching means distinct from such shoe for attaching to the heel of awearer and including a stiffening structure adapted to support thewearers weight at the heel and also to bear against the side of the footat the heel; and a support for said stiffening structure locatedadjacent one side thereof and adapted to cause a tipping of saidstiffening structure so as to convert a downward thrust of the heel intoa lateral thrust against the side of the foot.

2. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means forattaching to the heel of a wearer and including a stiffening structureadapted to support the wearers weight at the heel and also to bearagainst the side of the foot at the heel; a support for said stiffeningstructure located adjacent one side thereof and adapted to cause atipping of said stiffening structure so as to convert a downward thrustof the heel into a lateral thrust against the side of the foot; andmeans for adjusting said support to vary the amount of tipping causedthereby.

3. In an orthopedic device adapted to be worn within an ordinary shoethe combination of attaching means distinct from such shoe and adaptedto embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening membercarried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upwardagainst the side of the foot at the heel; and a support for saidstiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion and adapted tocant or tip the same laterally.

4C. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; asubstantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and adapted toextend beneath the heel and upward against the side of the foot at theheel; a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upwardextending portion and adapted to cant or tip the same laterally; andmeans for adjusting said support to vary the amount of tipping causedthereby.

5. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; astiffener plate connected therewith and having a portion adapted tosupport the weight of the wearer at the heel and also having portionsadapted to extend upward therefrom at opposite sides of the foot at theheel to confine the same; and a support for said stiflener plate locatedat one side thereof and adapted to convert a downward thrust againstsaid stiffener plate into a lateral thrust exerted by one of the upwardextending portions thereof against that side of the foot.

6. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; astiffener plate connected therewith and having a portion adapted tosupport the weight of the wearer at the heel and also having portionsadapted to extend upward therefrom at opposite sides of the foot at theheel to confine the same; a support for said stiffener plate located atone side thereof and adapted to convert a downward thrust against saidstiffener plate into a lateral thrust exerted by one of the upwardextending portions thereof against that side of the foot; and means foradjusting said support.

7.'In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted toembrace the heel of the wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener membercarried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upwardremovable lifter plate attached to said stiffener member at the sideadjacent said upward extending portion and itself extending downwardfrom and beyond the same.

8. In an orthopedic device the-combination of attaching means adapted toembrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening memberattached thereto and having a portion adapted to extend beneath the heeland a portion adapted to extend upward against a side of the foot at theheel; said upwardly extending portion being provided with a pocket; anda lifter plate inserted and supported in said pocket and extendingdownward beyond said stiffener member to support the same in a laterallytipped or canted position.

9. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted toembrace the heelof the wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener memberattached thereto and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upwardagainst opposite sides of the heel; and downward extending lifter platesattached to said stiffener member at opposite sides thereof andprojecting downward beyond the same to support said stiffener member ina laterally tipped or canted position.

10. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adaptedto embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener memberattached thereto and having a portion adapted to extend beneath the heeland a portion adapted to extend upward against a side of the foot at theheel said upwardly extending portion being provided with a pocket; aspring mounted in said pocket; and a lifter plate resiliently supportedin said pocket by said spring and extending downward beyond saidstiffener member to sustain the same in a laterally tipped or cantedposition.

11. In an orthopedic device the combina tion of attaching means adaptedto embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening membercarried thereby and against a side of the foot at the heel; and aadapted to extend beneath the heel and upward against a side of the footat the heel; a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upwardextending portion and adapted to cant or tip the same laterally; andmeans for adjusting said support to vary the amount of such canting ortipping.

12. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adaptedto embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening membercarried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and thenceforward beneath the arch to a point at least as far forward as the ballof the foot, and also adapted to extend upward against the side of thefoot at the heel; an arch supporting structure carried by said forwardextending portion; and a support for said stiffening member adjacentsaid upward extending portion, adapted to cant or tip the stiffeningmember laterally.

13. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adaptedto embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening membercarried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and thenceforward beneath the arch to a point as far forward as the ball of thefoot and also adapted to extend upward against the side of the foot atthe heel; an adjustable arch support structure carried by said forwardextending portion; a support for said stiffening member adjacent saidupward extending portion adapted to cant or tip said stiffening memberlaterally; and means for adjusting said support to vary the amount ofsuch canting or tipping.

14. In an orthopedic device the combination of a flexible ankle bracestructure adapted to be fastened about the heel and over the instep of awearer; a stiffener plate attached thereto and adapted to extend beneaththe heel and thence forward beneath the arch to a point as far forwardas the ball of the foot and also provided with a portion forming apocket and extending upward at the side near the heel; a removable archsupporting pad mounted on said forward extending portion; and anadjustable lifter plate supported in said pocket and extending downwardto support said stifiener member in a laterally tipped or cantedposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MELVIN L. SEVERY.

Witnesses EDWARD S. Cnooxn'r'r,

MARY C. WALSH.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

